HIGHLIGHTS BY DA GAME SHOW HOST DAVE WARD

The Royal and Ancient at St. Andrews has nothing on this course. Waiehu is the oldest public course on Maui, and it’s the best value (and the only course where you don’t have to take a cart!). There are more ocean holes on Waiehu than any other course on the island.

Truly unique in its layout, the front 9 is links style along the ocean, while the back nine takes you up into the rolling hillside. When the wind off the ocean is howling, the par 3, 5th hole and par 4 6th hole are as tough as anything at Pebble Beach.

OVERVIEW

For scratch golfers Waiehu is a breeze and has been the site of the Men’s USGA Publinx Qualifier on many occasions. This is the easiest course on Maui for bogey golfers. Ladies will find more challenge here than on four other Maui courses. Wind is a big factor but doesn’t hurt too much because it comes in from the side, and most of the course’s holes route parallel to the sea. The front plays mostly level with the exception of one par 3, which plays downhill. The back rolls more with holes playing in the direction of all four cardinal points of the compass—a hallmark of a good layout.

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TEE-TO-GREEN

Waiehu is the only course with only three par 4s on its front nine. The fairways are wide and easy-to-hit targets. Roughs are cut very short. The few doglegs favor a fade. The fairways provide for an even lie or stance on all but two or three holes. The green sizes are small and protected by shallow bunkers. There is only one fairway bunker on the entire golf course. Water comes into play on barely two holes. This is all about golfing by the sea.

DIFFICULTY

HAZARDS AND ROUGHS

GREEN SIZES

EDITOR’S NOTES

This used to be the cheapest game in town, and for locals, it still is. But even if you can swing a 4pm tee time at Maui nui for $11, is paying five or six holes there comparable to this? Not on your life. Waiehu has more bang for your buck than any golf course in what I’ll call the ‘value’ price bracket. It is no frills to a tee, but then are you really a golfer or is your priority to get a mani-pedi on the side? To live or visit the tropics and not imbibe in what is the most old Hawaii vibe there is begs to ask: ‘what gives?’ But, truth be told many do not play here, including yours truly, enough.

FOR THE MEEK

ROOM FOR ERROR

WOW FACTOR

FACILITIES AND AMENITIES

There is ample parking, Café O’Lei restaurant, a lit driving range, practice putting green with bunker, a pro shop, and on-course restrooms and water fountains. A longtime pro named Art Rego owns the concession in the pro shop, and earns his money renting golf carts, selling merchandise, and selling buckets of balls on the range. Say ‘aloha’ to him next time you visit. His sister, Brenda, is head pro at Wailea Blue, and their late brother Clyde, is a Hawaii golf Hall of Famer.

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CONCLUSIONS

Waiehu is truly a slice of old Hawaii. It is run by the county of Maui parks division and is not about real estate development, hotels, or any of the trappings of tourism. It is purely here for your enjoyment.

The fact that it has more oceanfront property and holes that all other courses on Maui combined should be a fair indication of what we think of it. This is a bucket list golf course.